Chapter 23
With Lu Hongzhi’s imprisonment, Tao Rouxuan immediately divorced him. No one in the capital gossiped about her; Lu Hongzhi’s character was so flawed that no one considered him a good husband, and she wasn’t worth wasting her life on him.
After the divorce, Tao Rouxuan and her son moved to a residence in the suburbs of the capital.
Lu Mian gradually learned that Tao Rouxuan hadn’t had much affection for Lu Hongzhi. She had initially thought he was a refined and knowledgeable scholar like her deceased husband, which was why she chose to remarry after three years of mourning.
However, as they lived together, Tao Rouxuan gradually saw his true colors; he was nothing but an opportunistic social climber. Lu Hongzhi had initially approached her for her family’s influence, and over the years, Tao Rouxuan’s feelings for him had completely dissipated, along with her patience for everyone in the Lu residence…
This was why, in the original plot, Tao Rouxuan had treated Lu Lin with such coldness; she felt the same way about everyone in the Lu residence.
Lu Mian’s arrival indirectly changed all of this.
Of course, the biggest change was in Lu Lin.
In the book, the original owner had ruined his palace examination, but because of Lu Mian’s transmigration, Lu Lin successfully entered the imperial court and impressed the Emperor with his talent.
The imperial edict arrived at the Lu residence on the same day Lu Hongzhi was arrested. Everyone was stunned; they had thought Lu Lin had failed, but it turned out the edict had just been delayed for two days.
The next afternoon, Lu Mian arrived at the Lu residence, accompanied by A-Qing and A-Ping. Although she was divorced, Tao Rouxuan was happy for the two boys to interact and allowed Lu Mian to visit the Lu residence every day.
With the imperial edict, Lu Lin became the top scholar of the imperial examination. Dressed in the crimson robes of a Zhuangyuan, his expression was cold and frosty. Only when the lively figure appeared in his sight did his eyes soften.
Lu Mian, his lips curled upwards, saw Lu Lin and ran towards him. Before he could reach him, Lu Lin had already taken several strides towards him. With others present, he restrained the urge to pull him into a tight embrace and kiss him.
However, Lu Mian didn’t care. He looked at the approaching figure and jumped into Lu Lin’s arms, whispering in his ear, “Whose Zhuangyuan is this?”
Lu Lin lowered his eyes, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
Lu Mian urged, “Whose?”
Lu Lin’s voice was soft and husky. “The little fool’s.”
Lu Mian’s eyebrows furrowed, and he was about to get down; Lu Lin clearly knew, yet he still liked to tease him. But as soon as he moved, Lu Lin’s fingers tightened around his thigh, holding him close.
Lu Mian looked up and heard a whisper in his ear, “Yours.”
His voice was gentle, laced with a smile, and Lu Mian instantly stilled. Lu Lin’s gaze was dark and deep, filled with possessiveness and satisfaction.
Lu Mian hummed, then said, “Then I’ll reluctantly accept you.”
Lu Lin: “Thank you, Mian Mian, for accepting me.”
Lu Mian couldn’t help but laugh.
Hearing the cheerful laughter, Lu Lin glanced at A-Qing and A-Ping, who were standing by the gate with their heads lowered, then carried Lu Mian towards the room.
Lu Mian buried his face in his neck, his heart pounding.
The room was dimly lit, and Lu Mian didn’t lift his head for a long time.
A voice came from above, carrying a hint of suggestion. “Not going back tonight?”
Lu Mian froze, understanding his meaning.
They were together now, but they hadn’t… Lu Lin must be at his limit.
After a moment of silence, Lu Mian nodded slightly. “Okay.”
As soon as he spoke, Lu Mian noticed the change in Lu Lin’s breathing.
“Mian Mian,” Lu Lin called out, carrying him to the bed and setting him down.
Lu Mian looked at the person leaning over him, his collar somehow open. He grabbed Lu Lin’s hair, trying to push his head away, but Lu Lin, having received his consent, wasn’t planning to let him go.
“Lu… Lu Lin…” Tears welled up in Lu Mian’s eyes, but they were licked away before they could fall.
Lu Lin finally sat up, pulling Lu Mian onto his lap, and caressed his cheek. “You’re giving yourself to me?”
Lu Mian’s eyes were red and unfocused. The previous stimulation had been too much; he couldn’t respond.
Lu Lin chuckled softly and kissed his cheek affectionately. The areas around his dimples were flushed, as was the cinnabar mole on his neck, which had already been kissed countless times.
With the last of his defenses broken, Lu Mian couldn’t hold back his whimpers any longer, the unfamiliar sensations overwhelming him.
Pain, and also…
At the same time, Lu Lin was whispering something in his ear.
“Mian Mian… cry louder.”
Lu Mian barely heard him and almost bit him, then he pursed his lips, determined not to cry out loud.
Lu Lin chuckled and scratched his chin. “Mian Mian?”
Lu Mian played dumb, pretending not to understand.
“I know you’re not foolish.”
“Be good.”
Lu Lin coaxed him to cry out, changing angles, teasing him relentlessly.
An hour later, Lu Mian, finally cleaned up and carried back to bed, was exhausted.
He looked at the person beside him, wanting to speak, but hesitating.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Lu Lin smiled back.
Lu Mian pursed his lips, then finally asked, “When did you know?”
His question was vague. Lu Lin dressed him, putting on his socks, then couldn’t resist pulling them down slightly and kissing his toes. He asked knowingly, “Know what?”
Lu Mian, embarrassed, curled his toes, then kicked Lu Lin’s face lightly.
He didn’t have much strength; it was like a tickle. Lu Lin held him down and kissed him thoroughly.
Lu Mian: “Ahhh, so dirty, so dirty!”
Lu Lin chuckled and pinched his lips.
After some more playful banter, Lu Mian asked again, “If you don’t tell me, I’m going back.”
Lu Lin rubbed his waist, making him moan. “You’re you, I knew from the beginning.”
The current Lu Mian was completely different from the previous one; how could he not know?
Lu Mian hugged him. “Will you leave?”
Lu Lin hadn’t expected him to be so perceptive. He had been bullied for so long, but seeing the vulnerability in Lu Lin’s eyes, he told the truth. “It’s not like I can go back whenever I want, and…”
Lu Lin looked at him intently.
Lu Mian’s ears flushed, and he continued, “We’re… like this now, how can I go back?”
Lu Lin’s fingertips brushed against his burning cheeks, his heart filled with tenderness. He couldn’t speak, only lean down and kiss him tenderly and carefully, his touch cherishing.
“What were you like before?” Lu Lin had suspected before, thinking it might be a case of possession or something similar.
Lu Mian told him about another world beyond this one, a world of vastness and freedom.
Lu Lin held him close, listening, all other thoughts gone from his mind, only tenderness and fear remaining as he heard about the car accident that brought Lu Mian here.
“The car hit me, it hurt so much,” Lu Mian mumbled.
Lu Lin held him even tighter.
After a moment of thought, he asked, “Mian Mian, do you want to go back?”
The world Lu Mian described was so beautiful and joyful, so alluring.
Lu Mian hugged him back, not complaining about the pressure, rubbing his face against Lu Lin’s. “I wanted to, at first…”
He was interrupted by a tight embrace. Lu Mian chuckled inwardly, pulling at his hand until Lu Lin loosened his grip. He continued, “I don’t have any family there, I was an orphan… I wanted to go back at first because I wasn’t familiar with this place. But not anymore.”
Lu Mian looked up, their eyes meeting. He smiled, his eyes curving, his dimples deepening. “Now, I have you.”
From now on, Lu Lin would be his home.
Perhaps his words were too touching, as Lu Lin remained silent for a long time.
Lu Mian touched his nose. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
He then remembered something. “Oh, for some reason, this body is still my own, you don’t have to…”
He was cut off by a kiss.
“Mian Mian,” Lu Lin whispered.
“Cry for me again, okay?”
Lu Mian only managed to let out a soft cry before he was swept away by a wave of even more intense pleasure.
More intense than before.
In the end, his mind hazy, he vaguely heard a whisper.
“I only have you.”
